Risky Substance Use Among People with Intellectual, Developmental & Other Cognitive Disabilities

Sharon Reif is a Professor and Director of the Institute for Behavioral Health at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. Dr. Reif is a health services researcher focused on the substance use treatment system, including systems approaches to improve treatment; access to and quality of care; policies; medications for treating addiction; the intersection of substance use disorders with other disabilities; and outcomes and recovery from addiction. She co-directs the NIDA-funded SPIRE Center on SUD Systems Performance Improvement Research and Engagement.

Rachel Sayko Adams is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management at Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Adams is an addiction health services researcher with expertise studying substance use, disparities in treatment, and outcomes in high-risk populations including military members and Veterans and people with traumatic brain injury or other disabilities. Dr. Adams is one of the Principal Investigators of the INROADS grant, which focuses on the intersection of disability and addiction.

Joanne Nicholson is a clinical and research psychologist, Professor at the Institute for Behavioral Health in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the UMass Chan Medical School. Her research is applied and community-engaged, focusing on the development and testing of interventions, services and supports for families living with behavioral health conditions. Individuals with lived experience are active partners in these projects. She is also a member of the SAMHSA Advisory Committee for Women’s Services.